Buddleia &#39;SMNBOW&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Buddleia  cultivar named ‘SMNBDW’ is disclosed, characterized by compact, dense habit less than 2 feet tall with thick, chunky stems with short internodes; heavy, wide, coriaceous, textured leaves; large and wide panicles of white flowers; and cold hardiness. The new variety is a  Buddleia , normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Buddleia davidii.

Variety denomination: ‘SMNBDW’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Buddleia cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Timothy D. Wood, in Grand Haven, Mich., USA. The objective of the breeding program was to produce compact plants with strong branches in a range of flower colors. The cross resulting in this new variety was made during 2012.

The seed parent is Buddleia davidii ‘UC 608’, unpatented. The pollen parent is the unpatented Buddleia davidii ‘Pink Delight’. The new variety was discovered in 2013 by the inventor in a group of seedlings resulting from the 2012 crossing, in Grand Haven, Mich., USA.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was performed by softwood stem cuttings. This was first performed in Grand Haven, Mich., USA in 2013 and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in 6 successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘SMNBDW’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘SMNBDW’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘SMNBDW’ as a new and distinct Buddleia cultivar:

1. Compact, dense plants less than two feet tall. 2. Thick, chunky stems with short internodes. 3. Heavy, wide, coriaceous, textured leaves. 4. Large and wide panicles of white flowers. 5. Cold hardiness comparable to the most cold-hardy Buddleia davidii on the market.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SMNBDW’ are similar to plants of the seed parent in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘SMNBDW’ differ in the following;

1. The new variety is smaller and more compact than the seed parent. 2. The new variety has smaller lateral branch lengths than the seed parent. 3. The new variety has persistent flowers, whereas the parent has self-cleaning flowers.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SMNBDW’ are similar to plants of the pollen parent in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘SMNBDW’ differ in the following;

1. The new variety is shorter than the pollen parent. 2. The new variety has white flowers whereas the pollen parent has pink flowers.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SMNBDW’ are comparable to the unpatented commercial variety Buddleia ‘ILVOargus01’. The two Buddleia varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety ‘SMNBDW’ differs in the following:

1. The new cultivar is a semi-dwarf, whereas the comparator is standard size. 2. The new cultivar has tighter flower clusters, whereas the comparator has looser flower clusters. 3. The new cultivar has panicles more horizontal/outward, whereas the comparator has panicles more upright/outward. 4. The new variety has been observed to set more seed than this comparator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates a plant of ‘SMNBDW’ grown in a nursery, in a 2 gallon pot.

FIG. 2 illustrates 1 illustrates in full color a typical inflorescence of ‘Age of the plant photographed is approximately 2-3 years old from a rooted cutting.

FIG. 3 illustrates a mature plant of approximately 3 years old, grown outdoors in the ground. The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 1996 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘SMNBDW’ plants grown in a poly greenhouse during the June, in Grand Haven, Mich. USA. The growing temperature ranged from 18° C. to 27° C. during the day and from 5° C. to 10° C. during the night. General light conditions are natural sunlight. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Buddleia davidii ‘SMNBDW’ -   Propagation: -   Type of propagation typically used: Softwood cutting. -   Time to initiate roots: 14-21 days at 21-29° C. average temperature. -   Time to produce a rooted young plant: 30 days at 21-29° C. average     temperature. -   Root description: Dense, free-branching, medium thickness, fibrous.     Color is white, not accurately described with R.H.S. chart. -   Plant: -   Age of plant described: 2-3 years from rooted cutting. -   Plant type: Perennial shrub -   Container size of the plant described: in ground. -   Appropriate containers: 1, 2, 3, 5 gallon commercial pots. -   Growth habit: Upright/rounded. -   Overall plant shape: Upright. -   Height: 75 cm. -   Plant spread: 94 cm. -   Growth rate: Moderate. -   Plant vigor: Strong. -   Characteristics of primary lateral branches:     -   -   Quantity.—Approximately 10.         -   Branching habit.—Upright and slightly outward. Branches both             basally and laterally.         -   Branch appearance.—Woody, with pubescence on newer growth.             Rounded.         -   Length.—48 to 52 cm.         -   Diameter.—8 mm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow Green 145B, with bark colored             Grey-Brown 199B with striations of 199A.         -   Pubescence.—Present.         -   Stem aspect/angle.—Approximately 0 to 35°.         -   Strength.—Good. -   Internode length: 4.0 to 4.5 cm. -   Foliage: -   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, single         -   Average length.—13.0 cm.         -   Average width.—4.8 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute to acuminate.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Slightly undulate and serrate.         -   Texture of top surface.—Soft, coriaceous, with distinct             veins.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Soft and pubescent with distinct             veins.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 143A, fading             to RHS Green 139A at the tip. Young foliage under side: Near             RHS Greyed-Green 192C. Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS             Green 139A with slight variation close to Yellow-Green 144A             along the edges Mature foliage under side: Near RHS             Greyed-Green 191C.         -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate Venation color upper side: Near RHS             Yellow-Green 145A. Venation color under side: Near RHS             Yellow-Green 145B.         -   Petiole.—Length: 2.0 to 5.0 mm. Diameter: 1 to 2.5 mm.             Color: Upper side: Near RHS Green 145B. Lower side: Near RHS             Green 145B. Texture: Upper side: Soft and pubescent. Lower             side: Soft and pubescent. -   Flower: -   Flower arrangement: Cone-shaped panicle. -   Flower type: Slaverform. -   Flowering habit: Freely flowering on terminal branches, will develop     panicles at other nodes after terminal panicle has bloomed. -   Natural flowering season: Mid-summer to early fall. -   Inflorescence height: Up to 34 cm. -   Inflorescence width: up to 10 cm. -   Flower longevity on plant: 3-4 weeks -   Persistent or self-cleaning: Persistent. -   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence: Thousands. -   Quantity of flowers per plant: Thousands. -   Bud:     -   -   Shape.—Linear with protruding square cap.         -   Length.—8.0 mm.         -   Diameter.—1.0 mm.         -   Color.—Near RHS White 155D. -   Flower size:     -   -   Diameter.—5.5 mm.         -   Length.—1.0 cm. -   Petals:     -   -   Appearance.—Smooth, vibrant.         -   Arrangement.—Whorled.         -   Petal length.—2.0 mm.         -   Petal width.—1 to 2 mm.         -   Quantity.—4.         -   Texture.—Smooth and soft.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Shape.—Oblong to obovate.         -   Base.—Slightly acute.         -   Margin.—Faintly undulate. -   Petal color: When opening: Upper surface: Near RHS White 155D Lower     surface: Near RHS White 155D. Fully opened: Upper surface: Near RHS     White 155D Lower surface: Near RHS White 155D Fading to Color:     Upper: Near RHS Brown 200A. Lower: Near RHS Brown 200A. -   Sepals:     -   -   Quantity per flower.—4.         -   Arrangement.—Fused into calyx tube.         -   Shape.—Narrow deltate.         -   Length.—2.0 mm.         -   Width.—0.5 mm.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Upper: Slightly pubescent. Lower: Smooth, slightly             pubescent.         -   Color.—Upper Surface: Near RHS Green 143C Lower Surface:             Near RHS Green 143C. -   Calyx:     -   -   Shape.—Oblong and unguiculate.         -   Length.—2.0 mm.         -   Diameter.—1.0 mm. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—5 mm.         -   Diameter.—0.5 cm.         -   Angle.—Upright, outward.         -   Strength.—Good.         -   Texture.—Soft, pubescent.         -   Color.—Near RHS Green 139D. -   Pedicel: Not present.     -   -   Length.—1 mm.         -   Diameter.—Less than 0.5 cm.         -   Angle.—Upright, outward.         -   Strength.—Good.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—Near RHS Green 139D. -   Fragrance: Strong honey scent. -   Reproductive organs: -   Stamens:     -   -   Number.—4.         -   Filament length.—1 mm.         -   Filament color.—Near RHS Yellow-Orange 21A. -   Anthers:     -   -   Shape.—Oblong.         -   Length.—1.0 mm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Orange 22A.         -   Pollen.—Quantity: Moderate Color: Near RHS Yellow-Orange             22A. -   Pistil:     -   -   Number.—1.         -   Length.—1.0 mm.         -   Style.—Length: Less than 1.0 mm Color: RHS Yellow-Green             144B.         -   Stigma.—Shape: Oblong. Color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144B.             Ovary Color: RHS Yellow-Green 144B. -   Other characteristics: -   Seeds and fruits: Typically 2-valved capsules of approximately 3 mm,     with approximately 50 minute seeds, less than 1 mm. Capsules near     Brown 200A, seeds too small to accurately measure with a color     chart. -   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to     the normal diseases and pests of Buddleia observed to date. -   Lowest temperature tolerance: to date in trials −31° C. -   Highest temperature tolerance: to date in trials 38° C. -   Garden performance: Good, strong stems resist breakage from     environmental stressors. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Buddleia davidii plant named ‘SMNBDW’ as herein illustrated and described. 